Times change and so do the generations of people. Things that everyone would take for granted are long gone. Like the days when passengers would casually smoke on flights, and when driving drunk was nothing to surprise anyone.
Similarly, people lose interest in things that were once a quintessential part of their lives. Like, television. Today, however, much of it has turned online, for better or worse.
This Ask Reddit thread is shedding light on things from the past that have lost their respect over time and now are a mere shadow of what they used to be. “What was once highly respected that is now a complete joke?” someone asked and the illuminating responses starting rolling in one by one.
Below we wrapped up the most interesting ones, so let us know in the comments if you agree or not!
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Hobbies. I am a hobbyist musician, and will never try to make money off of my music. I simply enjoy creating it with zero expectations.
Hustle culture ruined a lot of that because now every time I share my music with people, it turns into a conversation about monetization or how I’m wasting my time on something. It’s hard to even find likeminded people who want to collaborate without it turning into some big thing.
Time enjoyed is not time wasted.
I love painting but I'm never going to be able to sell any off it (I wouldn't want the pressure even if I could paint) but I enjoy it even if it ends up looking like a 4 yo threw up after eating paint. Sometimes we do things just to enjoy it.
There is a saying : "I just spend €75 on art supplies to create something that I could have bought for €7". And my creation will never be as good as the store bought thing. But creating it was worth every cent of the €75,-. If it makes me happy, I don't give a duck what other people say about my hobby
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Keep playing. When I asked for piano lessons at the age of seven, my parents were hoping I'd become a concert Pianist or a piano teacher. I HAVE taught students here and there over the years, but I truly just wanted to learn so I could play for myself. I still enjoy it and still play...for myself, 47 years later.
The same goes if you want to sell a few things but not make a big deal out of it. I made some dolls and sold them, but every time people saw them they asked it I had an online shop. I'm in highschool, do you think I have enough time to keep an online shop of handmade dolls stocked?
I got a 3D printer, and immediately heard “you should sell figurines.” I got an automated die cutter (to make vinyl iron-ons). “You should sell t-shirts!” I keep having to explain that I just want to enjoy myself.
Big ups. It's been hard for 30+ years. Art doesn't make money. Probably shouldn't. We will all starve for our art and smile while doing so.
Try amateur theatre, you'll never get enough money to monetize it - and you would need to make your own costumes, your own stuff to play with - so you discover new abilities all the time. Sewn both of women costumes for last play. Now a friend of mine is trying to make a cardboard fireplace that could survive someone trying to get through it.
I never really thought about that, but it's true. I like making stuff, crafting, art stuff, woodwork, etc.. and all of ever turns into its conversations about how iHAVE TO put up a website or sell on eBay or whatever. And the conversation always gets aggressive, especially when I'm like, no, I don't really want to do that... I hate it
That! I love to make something, but I do it for myself or for a birthday present. Not for mass-production and selling. Nope.
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Years ago, I used to make jewelry with interesting beads and semi-precious stones. Friends would ask why I didn't try selling them. I have a full-time job. This was just a hobby that I found relaxing. Besides, once money is involved, it is no longer relaxing - it is a business transaction.
My hobby is photography and I know that I will never make any money of it.
YES! I was a scratch baker before the pandemic and I truly enjoyed it. That is until everyone asked me if I was going to open a bakery, tell me I should go into business, or ask if they could have whatever I was baking that day. Sucked a lot of the joy out of it.
I wish I could upvote, applaud, high-five and marry this person. This is so accurate. This one really hit home.
This! I've done a few commissions and I keep getting encouraged to do more (digital portraits for pets and people), it's really nice being able to make something that makes others smile but the pressure just kinda takes away my enjoyment. I've even done a voluntary commission, completely free for a park close to home that I love. I could have charged but I just like being able to paint and draw for fun:)
You can and should do things for your own personal enjoyment and growth. If anybody says otherwise just simply ignore them. Not everything needs to be a side hustle or a competition.
I feel this re playing music! I never wanted to do it for a career and only did recitals as a necessary evil - I don't like to perform music, but I love to play music. Now as an adult I've never been able to connect with people who want to play without performing for money and thinking about it just made me realize how sad I am to have let something so meaning to me fall by the wayside.
I completely agree about hustle culture, I write fanfic and when I was asked if I wanted to make a career out of it and answered no, the person asking me looked offended. That’s a damn quick way to get sued and I write to relax.
Same. Music and art. I love/hate it and I do it for myself. I don’t want to be famous. There’s a weird joy in getting frustrated at yourself for not being great. A reason to toss drum sticks across the room or violently gesso over canvas. There’s times when you hit a sweet spot and times where you can vent. Both are necessary and both feel awesome.
I love casting things in glass (I use a micro-wave kiln) - not good enough to sell so I give things away to strangers with "This is a random act of art"
My writing is effectively that, which is fine. I just want to share it.
I too like to play and compose music for the sheer fun of it. Nothing wrong with it. I wish there were more people like me around to play with.
I used to draw so, so much. Then I started taking commissions and getting paid for it and now I struggle to draw anything.
Same here. I gave up stressing about making a living playing music years ago. I find when I do play I enjoy it more.
I am constantly told that I should sell my photographs or offer my services to people who want portraits done. Why can't I just take pictures of birds and be happy about it?!
This happened to me. All my life I have been a writer, but felt I wasn't allowed to be if I wasn't going to make a living from it. For years I didn't bother writing. Within the last few years I've started again and have just finished the first draft of a novel.
I'm a photographer, when I'm not a caregiver to the elderly. Friends keep hammering me to do shows in galleries and charge money. Well, as soon as it becomes a business I'm tossing my cameras the 'puck' out. Turn the one thing that gives me pleasure and satisfaction and make it another stressor. No thanks.
So true - we should do our hobbies because we enjoy them and not worry if we are good at them or making money.
I burned out in my job. Why would I want to do the same with my hobby? Now I'm spending (relatively) lots of money just for enjoyable activities, just to mend my mental health. And it's all worth it.
Man, I feel this. I know too many people who constantly suggest I monetize numerous various hobbies. 1. Turning a hobby into business eliminates the fun. 2. They can mind their own damn business. I don't need to build motorcycles or bicycles for profit, or go back into business as a tradesman (I'm retired from all that), or invest in a weed startup, or sell homemade sausage commercially, etc, etc. I just recently decided that my stock retort to these suggestions is that they should start farming commercially - I mean, everyone likes to eat, right? Or something along those lines. Work is work. Play is play.
My hobbies are writing and coding, also whittling and pottery. No, I do not plan to gain a career with this, but I may try to have my book published. That is it though. I just enjoy the others.
This seeps all the way down to kids. I’ve heard many a kid quit (or parents make them quit) things that won’t make them money in the future but would improve the quality of their life.
This. I love keeping fish, but making money from breeding and selling fishes is absolutely different. Monetizing your hobby can take some of the joy out of it.
It should be obvious to everyone that there's no point in doing something if you can't make a buck off it.
Working in the educational system. Being a teacher still sounds worthy of respect, but working as one is a joke. Kids are free to do whatever they want, you're barely allowed to punish bad behaviour in any way, school politics stop from changing anything, parents always blame you etc.
The American Flag, as an U.S. citizen. I know this will ring different to different people, but when I used to come across the flag it was usually displayed to show respect and pride. Now when I see it out in public, it's usually tied to some slobbish a*****e who has it attached to their truck bed, or slaps offensive bumper stickers that mix the flag with some s****y slogan. I feel like most the times I come across the flag now, it's being used by an a*****e to express F**k You.
While there are many things that have lost their popularity throughout the years and there may be countless different reasons why, experts notice the broader tendency of people losing their loyalty to many brands, services, and products. Apparently, it’s becoming harder and harder for companies to keep their clients and customers tied to them.
Ask any CEO, and they will confirm that customer loyalty is an important factor in the success of any business. By cultivating customer loyalty, businesses can ensure that customers are satisfied and come back for more.
The Supreme Court.
I was going to add this! Their credibility has plummeted, and they earned it.
The History Channel, The Learning Channel, MTV...
Healthcare! I've been in it 20 years it's changed so much. It's a joke. I'm in USA so....it's just gotten more corporate.
Didn't think it was possible for US healthcare to get *MORE* corporate
The key to creating customer loyalty lies in providing exceptional service and value for money. This means that customers must be given what they want, when they want it, and at a fair price. Many businesses reward customers for their loyalty, whether through discounts or other incentives.
Another way to build customer loyalty is to be available to answer customers' questions and provide assistance when needed. This could include providing customer service over the phone, online chat, or in person. As well, businesses should be open and honest about their products and services.
Creating a sense of community and belonging in acquiring long-term customer loyalty is also key. This is often done through social media platforms, newsletters, or customer feedback programs.
The Guinness Book of World Records
Once a well-established and professional collection of every impressive human feat, now a quick ego boost for rich kids that have barely enough talent to balance an egg on their forehead for 15 seconds on a July Afternoon at exactly 11:55 AM while wearing a Hello Kitty onesie
That time and date specification of the Hello Kitty onesie: Straight up gold. You rock.
Dr. Martens‘ Boots.
A British institution, you bought a pair, they lasted for years. Alas, „private equity“ got involved, manufacturing was sent offshore, and the quality went down like a submarine.
You are better off buying a pair of boots from the company that used to make them for DM, than a „genuine“ pair of DMs nowadays, their quality is a shadow of what it once was.
Here’s the original company still making the original quality boots. They’re now branded under their own name rather than the now Hot Topic quality DM. - https://us.nps-solovair.com/collections/boots
This new study conducted byTechSee, however, showed that difficult times have come for many companies in terms of keeping their customers tied to their brands. It has to do with the fact that the pandemic created a new economic situation for most industries, with many sectors and niches struggling to keep their sales high.
Journalists, and no this isn't some right wing fake news thing. Consumerism has turned hard-hitting journalism into clickbait b******t because that's the only way they can turn a profit anymore. There's still real journalists out there but no new ones are being born, very sad.
Our local newspaper hired two young inexperienced journalists and put them in the outback part of the region. The part that other journalists don't bother to cover. They are amazing! They have uncovered corruption and criminality. Their interviews hit the nail, while the experienced journalists fumble. Their topics are interesting, even if it's stories that are not relevant to us. It is a joy to see that young journalists have the skills.
"We are a family here" said by anyone who isnt your family.
In fact, consumer loyalty towards brands has declined ever since the pandemic, and that is resulting in higher rates of churn with numerous consumers switching to competitor brands with all things having been considered and taken into account.
43% of the consumers who participated in this survey stated that they canceled subscriptions or switched to different products primarily because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving them better customer service. Additionally, 39% of consumers stated that they switched brands after being approached by a competitor.
The US Postal Service. A decades long campaign to smear their reputation coupled with legislation designed to cripple the service has turned them from the reason Santa Claus isn't institutionalized in *Miracle and 34th Street* to a comedians punching bag. And yeah, last time I went to the post office the service was terribly slow, but they had one window open in a building with five windows. Seemed kind of understaffed.
People are going to reflexively deny its initial popularity, but Facebook. It even used its exclusivity as its primary marketing tool during its initial launch only for colleges.
McAfee antivirus
Still gets bundled pre-installed on new computers and laptops. It's the first thing I uninstall
The three branches of US Govt.
Also, accountability and leadership
If the government is “of the people, by the people, for the people” who is failing who?
Levi's blue jeans.
They used to last forever, now I'm lucky to get a year out of them. They always fail in the same spot too. No idea why but I'm not alone online about this.
I bought a pair of Lucky jeans on a deal. Never had a pair of them before. Now they just might be my new favorite.
Levi's still have a 2 year warranty against manufacturing and fabric defects and a 6 month return policy. Levis used to be guaranteed for life. Still, If you turn in a worn out pair or jacket they will give you a gift card equal to the value of the traded in item, which can be used to purchase new merchandise at a Levi's store or on their website.
Air travel
now its just Premium and extra Premium (thx for telling me how to spell it)
OSHA. Not even their fault either. There's been so much lobbying against them that the red tape is so insane that they can't effectively regulate workers exposure to toxic chemicals.
The supreme court is about to make regulation of any industry neigh impossible. The Republicans are pushing a legal theory that Congress cannot pass off the ability to regulate to executive agencies, that any and all regulatory action must be a direct act of Congress. Which is an institution which is totally incapable of being reactive, and can take years to pass any legislation at all. This would effectively destroy all regulatory bodies in the US. No more FDA, SEC, OSHA, FTC, etc. Should be interesting to see what companies start selling as food when there is zero regulation.
Sears.
Agreed. Above is mention of Craftsman tools. A number of us on here are old enough to remember the giant Sears catalog that we pored over all year to figure what we wanted for Christmas. Sears-Roebuck literally sold houses in their catalog.
Bank managers. They used to have serious power in local communities. Now they have to be glorified customer service reps a lot of the time
I think a lot of the power and prestige suffered from dilution. Go back in time and a town might have one or two banks. Also credit cards were not common. I can recall going into a bank for a $300 loan for parts so I could overhaul my car. Now I'd just toss that on my credit card. So if you pissed off the bank manager it mattered. Now there are umpteen banks in each town and each bank has multiple locations. Someone can be a lot lower in the food chain and still make manager and their powers are mainly their own local branch. My bank manager has been quite helpful a coupe of times and I like him but if I didn't I'd just go to a different branch.
News anchor people.
Wells Fargo
They've been slime bags at least fifty years, I know from personal experience.
Netflix originals
I like a lot of these shows. Particularly the ones from Germany, France, and Brazil.
I could not agree more. They used to write a lot of their own content based on funny and heartwarming stories from around the world. They also used to feature the work of a lot of neat artists who were just starting out. Now they practise censorship and ban good users for getting downvoted. Also, some of their listicles can be really negative. They are also reposting a lot of stuff from a year ago. I want more animal and art posts again!
Load More Replies... The French as a military force. Prior to the two World Wars they were a superpower. Mark Twain wrote that "war is their business, and they do it well". Bit of a comedown to get Homer Simpson calling them "cheese-eating surrender-monkeys".
Don't forget they got spanked in the Franco-Prussian War over 40 years before World War I
Load More Replies... There is a movement called 1st amendment auditors who originally were going into public buildings or filming police and most of the time you didn’t know they were there. Now they call themselves independent journalists and purposely provoke cops and normal people in public buildings who are just doing their jobs so they can get clicks and views on YouTube. There are even some now filming kids in playgrounds and going into elementary schools claiming they are allowed because they are “journalists”.
Church leaders. Now all they want is money, sex and control over the lives of their followers. And then they wonder why people are leaving religion in droves.
I think they have always been like that. It's just that, like so many other things, they are more exposed now.
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Hey rosemary heads up everyones got deductibles, I didn't say the kids insurance was great but it is better than nothing. Oh and also everyone's insurance has been going up and guess what it's not because of Obama or people like my kids finally being able to get some sort of insurance when work doesn't offer it...it's because INSURANCE COMPANIES are GREEDY...that's what the rich always want to have you do blame the person who's got less than you rather them. Kinda like all the republicans who don't want to forgive some student loans, but were quick to give companies COVID funds that didn't have to be repaid. Look up how much Marjorie Taylor green got for her businesses. Then tell me how that's fair
The Republican Party. Starting with Reagan, it started rocketing downhill.
Nixon started the "southern strategy", and the philosophy that fear and hate were the best way to motivate supporters. Prior to Nixon, the Republicans were good people.
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Might be controversial but I would say Donald Trump. When The Apprentice first started most people loved him. He was see as an American Icon, someone to admire. It is terrifying now we know who he really is and what he stands for.
Nah, to many of us he's always been a braggart piece of c**p.
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I could not agree more. They used to write a lot of their own content based on funny and heartwarming stories from around the world. They also used to feature the work of a lot of neat artists who were just starting out. Now they practise censorship and ban good users for getting downvoted. Also, some of their listicles can be really negative. They are also reposting a lot of stuff from a year ago. I want more animal and art posts again!
Load More Replies... The French as a military force. Prior to the two World Wars they were a superpower. Mark Twain wrote that "war is their business, and they do it well". Bit of a comedown to get Homer Simpson calling them "cheese-eating surrender-monkeys".
Don't forget they got spanked in the Franco-Prussian War over 40 years before World War I
Load More Replies... There is a movement called 1st amendment auditors who originally were going into public buildings or filming police and most of the time you didn’t know they were there. Now they call themselves independent journalists and purposely provoke cops and normal people in public buildings who are just doing their jobs so they can get clicks and views on YouTube. There are even some now filming kids in playgrounds and going into elementary schools claiming they are allowed because they are “journalists”.
Church leaders. Now all they want is money, sex and control over the lives of their followers. And then they wonder why people are leaving religion in droves.
I think they have always been like that. It's just that, like so many other things, they are more exposed now.
Load More Replies... Hey rosemary heads up everyones got deductibles, I didn't say the kids insurance was great but it is better than nothing. Oh and also everyone's insurance has been going up and guess what it's not because of Obama or people like my kids finally being able to get some sort of insurance when work doesn't offer it...it's because INSURANCE COMPANIES are GREEDY...that's what the rich always want to have you do blame the person who's got less than you rather them. Kinda like all the republicans who don't want to forgive some student loans, but were quick to give companies COVID funds that didn't have to be repaid. Look up how much Marjorie Taylor green got for her businesses. Then tell me how that's fair
The Republican Party. Starting with Reagan, it started rocketing downhill.
Nixon started the "southern strategy", and the philosophy that fear and hate were the best way to motivate supporters. Prior to Nixon, the Republicans were good people.
Load More Replies... Might be controversial but I would say Donald Trump. When The Apprentice first started most people loved him. He was see as an American Icon, someone to admire. It is terrifying now we know who he really is and what he stands for.
Nah, to many of us he's always been a braggart piece of c**p.
Load More Replies...